Pottsgrove knows exactly what it will be up against in tonight's PIAA Class 4A Tournament first-round game: an extremely talented Bethlehem Catholic team that defeated the Falcons 51-20 in the same situation last year.

But Pottsgrove came into this season with the expectation of returning to states and making a run at the title, and the Falcons (11-1) will be ready to go when they face the Golden Hawks (10-2) at 7 at Spring-Ford's Coach McNelly Stadium.

"We know what we're getting," said Pottsgrove coach Rick Pennypacker, who will be retiring at the end of the season. "They're a good team. It's the same old thing when you get into the playoffs. You have to play teams like Archbishop Wood and now Bethlehem Catholic for the second time. They're absolutely phenomenal teams. But we've got a good team, too."

Becahi, which went on to defeat Johnstown in the quarterfinals last year before losing to Imhotep, is coming off a 42-7 win over Saucon Valley in the District 11 final. Zaheer Seabrooks ran for 113 yards for the Hawks, Matt Bisco ran for 81 and Daizhun Rhodes caught five passes for 101 yards.

Bisko leads the Hawks - who are averaging 41.1 points - with 806 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns; Seabrooks has rushed for 633 yards. Tavion Banks, who led with 639 yards on the ground before an injury, could be back in the lineup tonight.

Javon Clements, who went 8-for-10 for 223 yards and two TDs against the Falcons last year, is 110-for-190 for 2,020 yards and 17 touchdowns. Linebacker Carson Badamo has eight sacks among his 55 tackles; linebacker Peter Iselo leads with 63 tackles; and safety Owen Daddona has 11.5 tackles for losses among his 54.

The Hawks defense is especially good against the run, allowing only 1.2 yards per carry against Saucon Valley and an average of 2.9 per attempt for the season while giving up 18.4 points.

"When you get into states, there are no bad teams," said Pennypacker, whose team lost in the opening round to Archbishop Wood 30-28 in 2009 and 41-22 in '11. "They're good, and you can't hide. Some of the matchups aren't what we'd like. But our kids have worked hard. We'll have no regrets."

Pottsgrove is coming off a 38-14 District 1 championship win over Upper Perkiomen in Pennypacker's final home contest and is scoring 43.6 points while allowing 13.6.

The running game is the strength for the Falcons, who average 334.8 yards on the ground. Rahsul Faison has run for 2,851 yards and 41 TDs; quarterback Jay Sisko has 454 rushing yards and 11 scores. Sisko has also thrown in some strategic passes, completing 33-of-64 for 772 yards and 12 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

Last year, Becahi outscored the Falcons 17-0 in the opening quarter at Northern Lehigh, including a touchdown on a 97-yard fumble return, and added a 44-yard scoring pass by Clements in the second quarter for a 24-0 halftime lead.

Faison ran for 129 yards on 28 carries, and the Falcons traded touchdowns in the second half before the Hawks scored the final 13 points to blow it open.

That was against a young and overachieving Falcons team that came in with four losses and an overtime win in the district final.

"Last year we were just happy to be there," said Pennypacker. "We lost five games last year. This year I think we deserve to be here. We played well all year, except for one bad game. Our kids are excited."

"We're looking for our first state win," Sisko said after last week's game.

And the Falcons are happy to be playing close to home this time.

"It should be a good one," Faison said last week. "It's kind of a home field advantage."

"We're going to have no regrets," Pennypacker said. "The kids have played hard. They've been focused all year. There may be 19 kids going out there and playing their last game, along with me."